Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara has called for Manchester United to hire former captain Roy Keane as manager, in a bid to reverse the Red Devils' atrocious form under Ruben Amorim. The talkSPORT pundit lauded the fiery Irishman for his leadership skills, saying the 58-year-old would "not allow poor standards". O'Hara did acknowledge the club was highly unlikely to make the move, however.
O'Hara praises Keane's leadership skills
Speculation over Amorim's future has predictably resurfaced after United fell to a lacklustre 3-1 defeat away to Brentford this past weekend. O'Hara believes the paucity of standards within the United dressing room needs an urgent fix, something a hard taskmaster like Keane could provide.
The former Tottenham midfielder went as far as to suggest it was "unbelievable" that nobody at United had reached out to Keane for his involvement in the increasingly shambolic goings on at Old Trafford
Speaking on Wednesday on Sky Sports, O'Hara said: "I'm amazed that no one has phoned Roy Keane and said, 'Can you come in at Man Utd and be part of what we're doing here?' because he is arguably Man Utd's greatest captain.
"He is a leader. He's unbelievable. When you watch him, he's ferocious, you listen to him, when he walks into a dressing room, you're going to listen.
"He's going to lead by example. He's not going to allow poor standards. I can't believe Manchester United have not phoned Roy Keane.
"Maybe it's because he can't be the manager.
"Maybe it's because he's too hot-headed, I don't know. They want someone in with more tactical nous or whatever.
"How Roy Keane isn't in there at that football club, in the dressing room, in there every day at the training ground telling them this is the standard, this is what's Man Utd, this is what we've built, this is how we do it… I cannot believe they've not done something like that."
AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentUnited's terrible form under Amorim
Whether O'Hara's idea has any legs, it's clear something needs to change at United. The Red Devils have won just two of their first six Premier League games this season, with Amorim criticised for failing to get the most out of notable summer signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, while steadfastly sticking with a faltering 3-4-2-1 system.
His 34 points in 33 league games as United boss is a paltry return on his tenure. The 3-1 loss at Brentford is the Portuguese's 17th loss in the Premier League.
Keane's managerial record
While O'Hara's rousing call to arms for Keane to return to Old Trafford in some guise may resonate with some embattled United supporters, there's little evidence to suggest the Irishman could right the ship. The 54-year-old as not held a managerial position since leaving Ipswich Town in 2014. While he has experience as a number two since then, most notably alongside Martin O'Neill for the Republic of Ireland, his abrasive style which O'Hara seemingly thinks would return to the club to a golden age is just as likely to cause discontent in a modern dressing room.
Keane, of course, has not played the game since 2006 and played in a completely different era; however, he does know what success looks like, winning seven Premier League trophies, as well as four FA Cups and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford. United's current woes would surely have him tearing his hair out.
Getty Images SportKeane to stay in media, but farewell to Amorim?
For all of his intimation that he does not enjoy working in the football media, it seems Keane is very content with his current workload. His comedy double act alongside Ian Wright on Stick to Football and ITV's international coverage never fails to deliver, while his diatribes against the 'babies' in the Premier Leagues on Sky Sports makes for appointment viewing. It's unlikely he will want to return to the club in any guise given just how poorly it seemingly being run. O'Hara might just fancy nipping in a couple of Keane's vacant punditry spots rather than genuinely feeling the Irishman should involve himself in the Manchester United melodrama.
